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The Search for Everything Image
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 62 Ratings

  • Summary: The first full-length studio release for the pop singer-songwriter features eight songs released on two EPs released in early 2017.
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  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Blues-Rock
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Apr 14, 2017
    90
    The Search for Everything succeeds because he's not donning a new costume: instead, he's settling into a groove he can claim as his own, and it feels like he's at home.
  2. 83
    The most deeply personal album Mayer has ever released. At the same time, the slickness of the music blunts some of the impact. To nearly the same degree that Mayer’s lyrics explore the limits of control, his music seeks to enforce it.
  3. Apr 19, 2017
    49
    It’s progress, probably, that Mayer keeps the condescension to a dull sneer, but this also makes everything sound that much more anodyne.
  4. Apr 14, 2017
    25
    He’s delivered a batch of songs that feel relentlessly focus-tested in an attempt to win back his female fan base, but that have, in the process, sanded away the edges that gave him personality in the first place.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. Apr 16, 2017
    10
    A masterful design by one of the only musicians out of the 2000s to gain legendary status. John Mayer's music will have a fanbase long afterA masterful design by one of the only musicians out of the 2000s to gain legendary status. John Mayer's music will have a fanbase long after that of his peers has faded. Expand
  2. Apr 17, 2017
    10
    If you strip away your expectations; if you don't try to guess at what Mayer is trying to accomplish or whether he is trying to win back anIf you strip away your expectations; if you don't try to guess at what Mayer is trying to accomplish or whether he is trying to win back an ex-lover; there is a lot to love about this album.

    This album has sparked in me again a desire for good songwriting. Lyrically, the album is pensive and sincere. It is unabashed at times. I want to listen to these songs over, because they are real. They are simple but personal. They express thoughts most people don't say aloud. And while simple, the lyrics are poetically engaging in a way that few others are, the way a well-articulated quote might keep you thinking about it for a time.

    Musically, it's John Mayer. The album is well-arranged, precise, and sometimes goes to a really interesting place (i.e. the guitar fill at 1:53 in "Moving On and Getting Over" is clever work). It's a very chill, relaxed vibe. I've found that when I listen to Mayer's albums, I appreciate the songs more as I listen to them more.
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  3. Apr 17, 2017
    10
    How I see it, in LPs: Room for Squares was a great introduction. Heavier Things was proof John's songwriting could mature and was versatile.How I see it, in LPs: Room for Squares was a great introduction. Heavier Things was proof John's songwriting could mature and was versatile. Then, Continuum set a bar that wouldn't be reached again until this year. There were some albums between then and now (and they're very good, and it's something of an injustice to treat them like this, particularly Born and Raised.) But, here we are.

    The Search for Everything essentially goes "tit for tat" with Continuum. Emoji of a Wave is as hard to listen to as Stop This Train (meant as a deep compliment), with In the Blood in the same club. Still Feel Like Your Man and Moving on and Getting Over are as smooth-funky as Belief and Vultures. Rosie sounds eerily like Gravity and I Don't Trust Myself had a lovechild. You're Gonna Live Forever in Me sounds like Dreaming with a Broken Heart had a change of, well, heart... though Never on the Day You Leave says "Uh... nevermind."

    There's no analogue to Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (and I don't think there ever will be), but that's fine, 'cause there's no analogue to Helpless, either. The mash-up of musical and lyrical counterpoints in Helpless is a fantastic antithesis to the synchronous nature of Slow Dancing. Meaning: the lyrics in Slow Dancing confirm the story already painted by the music. Helpless, on the other hand, *sounds* defiant and confident (musically), but describes the most defeating kind of defeat: the inevitable, helpless self-defeat. Together, the lyrics and music are like a kid trying to intimidate and scare off a monster by yelling at it... but the yell is laced with fear.

    The Search and Continuum are very similar, and very different. Equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, so to speak.
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  4. May 27, 2017
    8
    John - For a few tracks, I didn't know what to make of things. I've never really listened to John Mayer before, apart from a few songs hereJohn - For a few tracks, I didn't know what to make of things. I've never really listened to John Mayer before, apart from a few songs here and there, and I was struggling to see what all the fuss is about. But then, something clicked. His lyrics started to make sense to me, the instrumentals started to become more bearable (not a huge fan of country-ish guitar twangs, shoot me) and I was liking it. You really have to listen to fully appreciate these songs, but once you do.. Yeah. I get it.

    In The Blood was the highlight for me. An excellent display of songwriting, and a mid-tempo, chilled, melodic instrumental. There were others too, but this stood out amongst them. Very Dylan-esque in the way that the lyrics complimented the music perfectly, and vice versa. That's an incredibly difficult thing to do. This album is a lesson in lyricism. Here and there, there are some tracks that are kinda average, but it's not due to the lyrics, it's due to the song dragging on a bit or a dull instrumental. Mayer evokes powerful emotions through his music here, and, whilst I might not necessarily listen to much of this in the future, I can most definitely appreciate that.

    Tilly - Oh wow. I sometimes forget just how multi-talented this man is. His voice is beautiful, as a musician he's phenomenal and as a lyricist he's almost untouchable in this day and age. Yes, there were a couple of songs that were slightly less than breathtaking but the highs of this album were mesmerising. In The Blood is a masterpiece and oddly reminds me of Blowin' In The Wind by Bob Dylan. Never On The Day You Leave and You're Gonna Live Forever In Me are stunning. Genuinely some of the prettiest songs I've heard in years. The songs I gave the lower scores too (Moving on and Getting Over, Rosie..), are definitely going to be growers. They can't not be if they're on such a fantastic album and I trust that he included them for a reason. The Search For Everything is the most under-hyped gem of the year so far, and it'll certainly be one of my favourite albums of 2017.
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  5. Apr 17, 2017
    8
    A truly great new John Mayer album, with a variety of sounds and musical influence's. He has proved time after time that he's capable ofA truly great new John Mayer album, with a variety of sounds and musical influence's. He has proved time after time that he's capable of making solid albums and this release shows he hasn't lost any of his capability to do so. Expand
  6. Nov 4, 2021
    7
    I feel like with his long career and many albums, this might be one of the best ones. The story of the album was not something I picked up onI feel like with his long career and many albums, this might be one of the best ones. The story of the album was not something I picked up on initially but something I noticed as a side detail later on. Which is great! I feel like if an album has a storyline for whatever reason, the album is for the music, and the story should take a backseat to the music itself. This perfectly blended album is a road trip of tenderness, sorrow, spunk and I adore it. A must-listen.

    Favorite Songs: Still Feel Like Your Man, Changing, Moving on and Getting Over, Never on the Day You Leave, Roll it on Home, You're Gonna Live Forever in Me
    Least Favorite Songs: Emoji of a Wave
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  7. Mar 11, 2018
    2
    I've never met a John Mayer album I liked and this one fully meets those expectations. He's good for a few singles here and there (but notI've never met a John Mayer album I liked and this one fully meets those expectations. He's good for a few singles here and there (but not many in the last 5 years) but overall his music is boring. Yes, it's intended to be mellow, but there's a gulf of difference between enjoyable mellow music and boring music. Expand

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